ENVS 3000 UofG

For my last blog post, i’d like to share my own beliefs when it comes to being a nature interpreter. Admittedly, at the beginning of this course I wasn’t too fond of nature, I always thought it was kind of dirty, filled with insects and just not my cup of tea. I mean i’m still not very fond of insects, but I definitely have a newfound appreciation for nature. This is why I think as a nature interpreter, it’s important that I am compassionate and kind to nature. 

Majority of my childhood I think I just misunderstood nature. I didn’t realize how beautiful and soothing it could be for your soul. To me, it was just the dirty outdoors even though of course it has always been a lot more than just trees, grass and bugs. However, as of recently my relationship with it began to change. 

I’ve mentioned in an earlier post that during my trip to India last year was when my relationship with nature truly began to change. I’d like to share that feeling once again, because it’s truly important to me. My family comes from Punjab, india. In Punjab, the majority of the population there live off of farming. Not only do they farm to survive, but they farm because for generations we’ve been farming. So the one day when my uncle took my brother and I to the farm lands, and with my own eyes I saw the farmers working on their individual plots. It was one farmer per plot of land, and the land just seemed to go for miles. They were knee deep in soil, just digging, watering, planting and instinctively I was disgusted at the idea of being covered in dirt. However, when I just sat on top of the water motor and watched from a distance, as they continued to work, it finally hit me. All of a sudden I felt instant regret and guilt for feeling so disgusted, because these fields they were farming on, were once the same fields my grandfather, and his father worked on as well. I felt instant guilt in thinking I was disrespecting not only my grandparents, and great-grandparents, but all my ancestors who have only ever known farming and are the reason I am standing here today. 

Farmer husband and wife, in their fields. 

My grandfather used to tell me stories about him working on these farms. He would tell me how hard it was to work in the blaring sun, and for 14 hours of the day too. He always told me how much his heart-ached during the dry months, when he’d watch his plants begin to dry and wither away because it hadn’t rained in months. Then, he’d tell me the stories about the joy the farmers felt when it finally did rain. Some would cry out of relief because the rain saved their months long work, while others would call it a day and drink in celebration. 

It was then in India when I realized I had it wrong the whole time. Nature has always been nurturing and giving to me. This is why I felt guilty. I felt guilt because I knew how deeply connected my grandfather was to the same soil that was disgusting me seconds earlier. Not only did the soil feed his family but it had the heart and soul of all my ancestors in it, and that is why it was so dear to my grandfather. You see, to farmers their farmland is not just their livelihood but also extremely spiritually important. Their soil means so much to them, because its the same soil their fathers, and their father’s fathers, and even their father’s father’s father once stepped foot on. It’s been passed along for generations, so of course there is an emotional connection to it. My trip to India taught me that I need to be kind and compassionate to nature, because it’s nurtured my ancestors for centuries and it’s the only thing connecting me to them. 

This is why I want to share with you all something that is so dear to my heart, something that makes me tear-up even writing it. I’m not sure if you have heard about currently 12 million_ farmers are protesting new farm bills passed in India. Farmers from North, South, East and West India have made their way to Delhi to protest against these bills, but they have been met with tear gas, water cannons and beatings from the police. The violence against them is completely unnecessary because their protests have been entirely peaceful, and majority of these farmers are old aged and already risking their lives during this pandemic to protest. The farmers know all the bills are disguised to help them, when in reality they make them more vulnerable to large corporations. The Indian government has pulled their minimum support price, and instead has given the private corporations the ability to determine the rate at which farmers can sell their produce. The minimum support price was acting as a minimum wage for the farmers, but now since large corporations decide the price, the farmers are left with no leverage or backup plan for their goods. This is very dear to me, because I am only one generation removed from being in India protesting as well. I come from a family of farmers and they know right now their livelihood is at stake. They know that these new bills give these large private corporations the ability to manipulate and exploit farmers even more so than they already do, and push farmers further into debt until they’ll be forced to sell their farm land. The same ancestral land, the same land these farmers work 14 hours a day to make the food that feeds the entire country. 

From the protests In Delhi.

12 millions+ farmers protesting in the streets of Delhi.

I’ve attached links to petitions, links to learn more, but please consider reading up more because I know I didn’t do a sufficient job in explaining the depths of the threat these bills pose to farmers. 

This is what I think is important as a nature interpreter. I think it’s important to be kind and compassionate to nature, and no one is going be to more kind to these farm lands than the farmers themselves. Don’t let the Indian government steal that from them! 

https://www.change.org/p/support-all-farmers-by-revoking-the-farmers-act-in-the-republic-of-india?utm_content=cl_sharecopy_26058773_en-US%3A0&recruiter=1107756442&recruited_by_id=d11970e0-a663-11ea-be3d-638667c84178&utm_source=share_petition&utm_medium=copylink&utm_campaign=psf_combo_share_initial&utm_term=psf_combo_share_abi

https://www.timesnownews.com/india/article/what-is-the-farm-bill-and-why-are-farmers-protesting-against-it/689215 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-kmDsLp0xnw&t=13s&ab_channel=DhruvRathee 

References: 

https://www.devdiscourse.com/article/agency-wire/2705-a-happy-farmer-makes-a-happy-countryvice-president-venkaiah-naidu

Its interesting to read about a kid not liking the outdoors, how one finds it kind of dirty. When I was a kid all I wanted to do is play outside and check out what it has to offer. So many just want o to play in the dirt and get messy. I guess it depends what you are exposed to as a kid and how you are raised. I'm glad you have expanded your opinion on nature. I was touched to read about your grandparents and your family. Sometimes its hard for kids to follow in their family's footsteps, especially to become a farmer. As the world grows I think farmers are going to be hurt more and more due to corporations. So, to hear about the protests in India I was hurt. There should be no violence given it is a peaceful protests. I appreciate the information being shared, about the strugglers India is going through, I would not have known of its existence otherwise, probably like most people. I agree with your final statement about this is what it means to be a nature interpreter. Continue to spread your compassion about nature and your beliefs. Keep up the fight for a better outcome for the farmers and I will try and do the same. 

Ethics is a very diverse term that is unique to everyone in different ways (Beck et al. 2018). Personal ethics are moral guidelines that you give yourself that help in situations and making decisions in your personal life (Beck et al. 2018). Often ethical values are shared between people but, the level of importance within your ethics will vary. Some personal ethics I poses in my day to day life includes integrity, respect, empathy, selflessness and honesty (Indeed, 2020). Other types of ethics involve the moral decisions of right and wrong. I myself make decisions based on my ethical and moral views which are developed as I grow as a human being, experiencing different places, cultures and education. In terms of nature interpretation, the type of ethics I developed throughout this course is the moral relationship of human beings to the environment. I value all of natures living and non-living components because they hold true beauty and importance to my life as well as others around me.

I believe every living thing shares an equal intrinsic value despite how powerful one can be over another. What I mean by this is that I morally feel it is wrong for example to destroy ecosystems for urban development or hunt tigers for their fur and/or welcome new products into our lives that had to be tested on multiple animals first. Who is it to say that humans have the rights to make the decisions regarding another living things life? It reminds me of an environmental perspective I have learned about and that is the social construction of nature (Robbins, 2014). Humans for hundreds of years have used natures natural wonders as a way to express social status rather than appreciate nature for all it is (Robbins, 2014). For example, people with weeds all over there lawns were seen as not successful or socially acceptable people because weeds were deemed as “ugly” (Robbins, 2014). Dandelions are a type of weed that humans feel pressured to expel from their lawns but in return we are just damaging the honey bee population (CBC, 2016). Honey bees rely on dandelions because they are the first source of nectar for bees in the early spring (CBC, 2016). Who is to say that humans have the rights to subtract a major food source from an ecological important species just for a socially acceptable status? I believe the answer is that humans don’t have this right and we abuse the privileges nature provides us with.

The type of weeds usually removed from lawns so the lawn looks “prettier”.   https://agrilifeextension.tamu.edu/solutions/weed-control-turfgrass/

I also believe expressing nature through different art forms is one of the greatest and most ethical ways of doing so. A special place to me where I grew up is my cottage located in Dorset, Ontario. Throughout the town of Dorset, sculptures of beavers, loons and wolves are displayed to express appreciation for these species and acknowledge that they are important in nature. Whenever I walk past these sculptures it makes me think about my encounters with beavers, loons and wolves throughout my life. For example, when I think of beavers, I can tell a story of why beavers were given the status of an emblem of Canada. When I think of wolves, I remember back to when a pair of wolves made shelter under my cottage and I was able to see them come out from underneath and walk back across the frozen lake into the forest. When I think of loons, I think about all the years practicing and mastering a loon call and the cool feeling I got when it triggered a response from them. There is nothing more beautiful then relaxing by the fire on the beach as the sun is setting and the loons are howling back and forth.

Common loon found in freshwater ecosystems.     https://abcbirds.org/bird/common-loon/ 

I also believe privilege plays a role in nature interpretation (Beck et al. 2018).  Being able to grow up and experience the things I listed above is truly a privilege I am forever thankful for. It is to my understanding that some people don’t have the privilege of going outside or having the freedom of seeing a beautiful landscape (Beck et al. 2018). In my most recent adventures, I had the opportunity to travel to Vancouver and go hiking. The accessibility to fly across Canada to another province is a privilege as well that some people may not be able to experience. Hiking and exploring the different ecosystems they have really opened my eyes to how much nature can change even just between a few provinces. Nature flourishes wherever life can grow and be sustained which I think is beautiful.

The ethical responsibilities I have in my day to day life is educating others on why we need to treat nature and the environment as equals to us. Our beautiful environment will not be sustained if we keep negatively impacting it (Wals et al., 2014). That is why environmental education is so important, people can learn about the evolving issues of species loss, ecosystem destruction and climate change in hopes of creating efficient solutions for the future (Wals et al., 2014). If we treat nature and wildlife as an equal to us then maybe we can start to preserve our natural world before it is too late (Wals et al., 2014).

References:

Beck, L., Cable, T., & Knudson, D. (2018). Interpreting Cultural and Natural Heritage for a Better World. Urbana, IL: Sagamore – Venture Publishing LLC

CBC News. (2016). Lawn full of dandelions is a good thing, says bee expert. Retrieved from https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/dandelions-lawn-bees-1.3526394#:~:text=Julia%20Common%2C%20chief%20beekeeper%20for%20Hives%20for%20Humanity%2C%20a%20group,at%20this%20time%20of%20year.&text=It’s%20pollen%20and%20nectar%2C%22%20Common,Coast%20guest%20host%20Gloria%20Macarenko.

Robbins P., Hintz J., and Moore S. (2014). Environment and Society. Wiley Blackwell, United Kingdom.

Excellent post. I was really fascinated by your thoughts and ideas you had about ethics when it comes to nature. I couldn’t agree more about how humans for so many years used nature for their own benefits and greed instead of appreciating the beauty and wonder of it. I feel that appreciating the natural world is what brings us happiness. As you had mentioned about empathy, i feel it is important to show empathy to the living species around us like how are human activities we do will affect them such as like as you had mentioned about dandelions which are beneficial for honey bees, yet not many see it that way and try to kill dandelions from their lawn and yard. Privilege is essential because the way things are set up as right now in the current climate of things not many people have access to the natural world given how industrialized the world had become. So like you are privileged for example that you have a cottage. It is also essential to educate others about the natural world and how to treat nature with respect as it seems most schools don’t focus on that subject really in which they should. 

Really enjoyed reading your post. The first paragraph really drew me in to the rest of the post. This weeks topic really brings a focus to our personality as a interpreter. In your second paragraph you talk about people not caring about living things. We live in a society that is exponentially growing, taking up space and destroying habitats for wildlife. To make up for our destruction we make zoos, “green spaces” and alternative habitats. I think people need more education on the outcomes of there actions towards habitat destruction. Privilege does play a role, its the opportunity's that we have that can change our views on nature. I am able to go to a cottage and enjoy the surrounding nature. I have done lots of travelling across the globe. You talk about your role being to educate, but education can only go so far. People can be stubborn about there beliefs and not want to change them. With this ever changing world people as a whole need to push for change and the appreciation for nature to last. When you pursue teaching others, I hope what you say they take to heart. 

Dear Board of Directors,

I am writing to you about the closure of The Canadian Ecology Center. I realize that the closure is a result of insufficient funding, but I am hoping that I can motivate you to try everything in your power to fight against that.

The Canadian Ecology Center helps our children in ways that may not be so intuitive. I remember as a kid, my love for nature started because of our family camping trips. These trips were my only exposure to nature, and I am certain that if it wasn’t for these trips, I would not even think of writing this letter.

A photo of one of the activities that The Canadian Ecology Center offers. Kids seem so happy and at peace. Retrieved from https://www.canadianecology.ca/highschool-credit-courses/ 

I remember running through the forests enjoying the fresh air and being fascinated by all the different organisms that nature has created. These moments were priceless to me because otherwise, I would be sitting at home watching TV or playing video games. These habits would have stayed with me to this day if it wasn’t for my parents. If our children remain indoors, our beautiful planet will pay the price. They would have no urge to even care because nature was not important to them growing up. They never built a connection with nature as children. They need to understand what nature is, how it works, and how humans impact it (EENM, 2020). It’s very hard to change as an adult and develop love for something. It might even be too late to build any connection that would have made us and our planet better. Children would be shocked if they grow up and face an environmental challenge. They must be ready to face the environmental issues of our future (EENM, 2020).  

The Canadian Ecology Center offers our kids that same experience that I had and allows them to build a connection with nature at a young age. As Dr. David Suzuki mentioned in an interview, our societies are so fast paced, and we have no time to sit and contemplate and give nature some of our time. There are no opportunities for our kids to be outside (Rodenburg, 2019). The fact that families would not fight for the closure of such programs concerns me and should concern everyone. It is easier to keep children inside and that seems to be the main concern to families who are not educated (Rodenburg, 2019).

A photo from The Canadian Ecology Center. educators and kids on one of their nature trips. Retrieved from https://www.canadianecology.ca/school-and-youth-programs/ 

Children love nature if they are given the chance and could develop illnesses if they grow up always being inside homes and buildings. Kids could develop nature deficit disorder (mental and behavioural issues) (Toth, 2016). These disorders can be minimized by being outside at a young age. We are concerned for our children because the world is becoming very urbanized and nature is forgotten. We are animals biologically and we need nature in our life. Dr. Richard Louv says that nature calms him, focuses him, and gets his senses excited. Something that I agree with and I feel like everyone (especially children) should experience. Because of these reasons, I urge you and ask you to please do everything you can to keep The Canadian Ecology Center. If not for our sake, for our children and our planet.

Thank you,

Montadher

References:

Environmental Education of New Mexico (EENM). Cultivating the Future of Environmental Education. (2020). Retrieved from https://eeanm.org/about/why-ee/

Rodenburg, Jacob. Why Environmental Educators Shouldn’t Give up Hope. Clearing. (2019). Retrieved from https://clearingmagazine.org/archives/14300

The Ecology Centre brings back some great memories. My first time there was the first year they opened. Having the opportunity to gain knowledge while exploring the outdoors is the best way to learn. More and more kids are losing the opportunity to explore the outdoors. All they want is to play video games and is due to the culture they are raised in. Getting in touch with nature needs to start when a child is developing and parents need to expose them to it. Like the Canadian ecology center, they are many opportunities for kids to learn and explore the outdoors. Join Scouts Canada or outward bound. Outward bound has the same concept of doing trips that contribute to high school course credit. Without exposing youth to environmental programs, we lose the battle against environmental concerns like climate change. The youth of today is the generation that will fight the environmental battles of tomorrow. With Covid and limiting places to go, interaction with people, closing of schools, what's left. Continue developing programs that youth can be apart, create a virtual realty where youth can explore places across the world. 

Throughout this course I have been exposed to many new ideas regarding nature interpretation, and all the different methods through which nature can be interpreted. It has been very eye opening to learn about all the different ways different environments, stories, pieces of art, or songs can be interpreted from a nature perspective.

What I know for certain is that there is extensive variability when discussing nature interpretation. Throughout this course we have discussed how many different factors can influence a person’s view towards nature, such as geographic location, economic status, or culture. Skogen (1999) investigated how children’s up-bringing and culture influenced their connection and perspective with nature and concluded that those raised with more exposure to nature and in culture that place emphasis on connection with nature, such as Aboriginal people. This study emphasizes the idea that different culture and upbringings can shape a person’s views towards nature and ability to interpret. I find the variance in ways people interpret nature so interesting because no one could really be considered wrong in their interpretation of a certain aspect of nature because we are all so unique with different backgrounds and ideas.

What I still wonder is how far nature interpretation can go and how much influence it can have on future issues relating to the environment. It is no secret that the physical state of the earth has been declining, but one large issue facing the planet is that there are still many people who deny any environmental issues, such as climate change, exist. I think that nature interpretation has a lot of potential in this area, because increasing a person’s ability to interpret nature can also help them understand the complex issues facing it.

I find inspiration through learning about new ways to interpret and think about nature. Throughout university I have taken many courses in environmental sciences which has greatly expanded my understanding on different environment related topics. By gaining better understanding about certain topics through my courses it has inspired me to continue to learn more about different areas surrounding the environment. This course has also inspired me to look back on many events from my life from an interpreter’s point of view in order to strengthen my understanding on the variety of ways nature can be interpreted.

I believe I can ignite by using the information I have learned in this course to interpret different areas of nature in ways that people may be more familiar with and more easily understand. This course has taught me many different ways through which nature can be interpreted, and many important aspects to keep in mind while interpreting, such as the targeted audience you are attempting to interpret for. A strong example of this was working through the first podcast assignment targeted at children ages 8-12. During this assignment I was able to apply many new strategies I have learned throughout this course in order to create a podcast about a somewhat complex topic in a way that young children can understand. Using the interpretation skills I have developed throughout this class, I hope to be able to further assist different groups of people in interpreting complex environmental topics.

Sources:

I absolutely loved the first thirty seconds of the podcast, as a participant I felt immediately drawn in by the groovy music, sound effects overlay, and tiktok meme?! The animated tone the hosts conveyed also allowed for an immediate interest in engaging with the content they were about to deliver. 

The first lesson I learned was the danger of road salt to living organisms such as animals and plants. A situational example was posed in which the audience learns that the introduction of salt into freshwater ecosystems impacts the food sources of fish. I also learned that fish are not the only organisms affected by the problem as road salt can also be poisonous to animals we see on land such as squirrels and chipmunks. However we are not just left to ponder on the problem, but we have a solution introduced, beet juice! I know a lot about the nutritional benefits of beets but I had no idea its benefits extended to dealing with snow and ice. Finally, I learned about the impact road salt can have on trees through depleting the vitamins they need to grow, and a second solution of sand is presented as an alternative to road salt in order to prevent slipping in the winter.

                 Image by Rupert Kittinger-Sereinig from Pixabay 

The lessons in the podcast were presented through the use of descriptive words and sound effects to invoke imagery in the various situational descriptions, as well as analogies to relate to the experiences of children such as referring to the freshwater environment as the fish’s home.

I think the method in which the information was presented was very effective in regard to the target audience being children. This is in terms of the humor used, the sound effects, and the casual and friendly mood invoked by the hosts, which I think would positively contribute to keeping children engaged throughout the entirety of the podcast. These techniques used also contributed to the flawless development of information in the podcast while still allowing for breaks, which is great in avoiding overloading the audience with information, but also makes the time fly by. 

                      Image by Irfan RInaldie from Pixabay 

After listening to this I feel motivated to explore and integrate more sound effects and music throughout my next podcast to not only compliment the information being communicated, but also seamlessly transition between different sections.

It’s an autumn night in northern Ontario, people are sitting by the lakefront with their heads leaned back towards the stars, as they are captivated by the vivid array of colours dancing across the sky. Colours of green, yellow, red, blue and purple shift between many forms and provide a stark contrast of light to their inky backdrop of the northern night sky.

Photo: Colourbox.com/ Stock Image

These lights are known as Aurora borealis, or more commonly the northern lights. Although I have never had the opportunity to experience the northern lights, I hope to witness its painted colours at least once in my lifetime. Personally, the lights not only serve as a reminder of the vast beauty within Canada but the astonishing capabilities of mother nature. This display is a natural phenomenon that results in the magnetic field surrounding the north pole, which is why they can best be spotted in places of higher latitude, such as Canada and Alaska. To get more technical, the northern lights are created by the release of gas from the suns’ solar activity that then collides with Earth’s magnetic field. This collision disturbs the magnetic field and produces charged particles that follow the path of magnetic forces into the Polar region. The charged particles then collide with oxygen and nitrogen atoms, resulting in the light show we observe (Library of Congress, n.d.).

Beyond the aesthetics and science of the northern lights, one thing that amazes me is the rich spiritual significance they represent within different communities. As far back as the times of Galileo, the northern lights have awed many people and symbolized several cultural meanings (Library of Congress, n.d.). For example, the Cree First Nations see the northern lights as a symbol of the life cycle and believe that passed loved one’s souls are communicating with them through the lights (Aurora Zone, n.d.).

Many efforts to capture the essence of the lights have been made in various art mediums, such as painting, poetry, and photography. One famous interpretation of the lights is a painting done in 1865 by Frederic Edwin Church called Aurora borealis. It is hung in the Smithsonian American Art Museum and is said to be reflective of its time, as this interpretation of the northern lights represented the belief that God was upset with the confederate slavery during the American Civil war, and the lights were a sign of His displeasure. The story of these signs from God inspired Union soldiers to remember the weight of what they were fighting for (Albany Museum of Arts, 2020).

Frederic Edwin Church. Aurora Borealis (1865). Oil on canvas. 56 in x 83.5 in. Smithsonian American Art Museum, Washington D.C.

As time has continued, the aesthetic, scientific, and spiritual fascination with this natural phenomenon has not faded. Today, viewing the northern lights is still a well sought-after experience and people travel from all over the to do so. I personally hope to travel to northern Canada to catch a glimpse of the ‘moving and mystical’ lights that have been explained as visually and emotionally indescribable (Redal, n.d.). For those who prefer the comfort of their own home, the lights can also be viewed on video livestreams. No matter what way people choose to view the northern lights, the unearthly beauty of this natural phenomenon rarely fails to amaze its spectators.

References

Albany Museum of Arts. (2020). Dancing lights in the sky. Retrieved from http://www.albanymuseum.com/kids-staying-inspired/dancing-lights-in-the-sky

Aurora Zone. (n.d.). Mythology of the northern lights. Retrieved from https://www.theaurorazone.com/about-the-aurora/aurora-legends

Library of Congress. (n.d.). What are the northern lights? Retrieved from https://www.loc.gov/everyday-mysteries/item/what-are-the-northern-lights/

After reading it, it reminded me of the time I lived in Alberta and saw the northern lights most nights. The beautiful green shimmer lights up the night sky and brings a sense of curiosity.  You have provided detail on the mechanics of how the aurora borealis is created and cited all your information which is good to see. It is interesting to know how culture played a spiritual role for the Cree Nations. The idea of one’s soul communicating through the lights is quite touching. To your post, I would have added information on the best time of year to see the lights and best locations across Canada. If you follow auroawatch.ca it provides accurate measurements of the geomagnetic activity which can predict the likelihood of seeing the lights.  I hope you get a chance to see them. Look forward to your next post.

Nicholas

              The connection between art and nature is a long explored one. The essence of art is to imitate life, and the heart of life comes from nature. Its brilliance lies in the ability to captivate the eyes and ears of the soul. Whether its printed sheet music or a painting, these stationary objects are able to move beyond their physical limitations to encapsulate the mind in a riveting experience of movement. To produce art is one’s greatest manifestation of gratitude towards the present experience, which continues to live on through time.

              An excerpt from Loren Eiseley’s book, The Immense Journey, captures this beautifully.

“Once in a lifetime, if one is lucky, one so merges with sunlight and air and running water that whole eons, the eons that mountain and deserts know, might pass in a single afternoon without discomfort.”

Cover of Loren Eiseley’s, The Immense Journey

              The mindfulness of the written experience relinquishes itself to the present moment. It allows writers to materialize the intimacies of existence, moving beyond the realm of human experience to bring meaning to those who read their words. The written word is not the only form of art which aims to bring presence to others; visual, musical, and theatrical arts engage in the same purpose.

              So, who am I to interpret nature through art? If I had to label myself, I would say I’m a performer. I understand art as using one’s skills to tell a story. While I used to involve myself in much more traditional forms of art such as music and visual art, I currently use my skills to tell enchanting stories to the public. The ability to use words in way that is captivating and absorbs listeners into the present moment is an art form itself.

              Nature interpretation gives rise to the current experience. It allows individuals to engage others to truly be present and be aware the world that exists around them. While art may not be the most traditional form of interpretation, it still lends itself to the same purpose; to bring true appreciation and respect for the world we exist in.

A photo of my dog sniffing some flowers in our backyard.

              As humans we live our lives in moments. In extraordinary instances, we stop to notice the world around us, ever so fleeting in the world’s calamity. As time continues, these moments start to fade and people try to capture these memories in the form of sounds and images, otherwise known as art. Its builds a version of the world in a single moment, to be carried forward through the rest of time. A moment ever so real, ever so present; a world that does not change. Pausing to take a breath on a vibrant experience and enjoying every bit of the moment before it’s time to move on. Art is taking a break to be present, in a world cannot help but move forward.

I hoped you enjoyed reading my blogpost! I would love to hear your thoughts on art as a means to connect with the present experience.

Your post was beautifully written. After reading it I went and bought the book “The Immense Journey”, because your post had such a impact. I think people are losing interest in “stopping to smell the roses” due to life becoming busy and always need to be moving. I hope that is not the case for the majority because change is ongoing. One day you see a beautiful moment in time  and the next its gone to be come something else. We can write about these moments, take pictures, express it in whatever way we can. But those memories will diminish in hopes of making new ones. I hope you keep on writing, I think its one of your talents. Cant wait to read your next post. 

I’ve been on social media a lot recently and have stumbled upon multiple awareness posts regarding microplastics that have since been on my mind. What are microplastics you may ask? Microplastics are very small plastic bits (about 5mm or less in length) that are harmful to aquatic life and species. From my research on this topic, I found that microplastics have various health effects on humans as well through their prominent role in our food web.

This is the photo that first made me want to do more research on microplastics. As someone who frequently goes out for sushi (about once a week) this was a very moving photo to me. It will always resonate in my mind. “If it’s in the fish, it’s in you”, we need to do better!

Did you know that plastic is the most prevalent type of marine debris found in our lakes and oceans? I mean look around you, almost everything we poses is made of plastic or contains it. I think that we as a generation need to be more aware of this problem and work on ways to help save our ecosystem. It would surprise you how many people are uneducated on this topic; I’ve talked to multiple of my friends about it and was disappointed to hear that they have never heard the term “microplastic” before.

Are we already a few years too late? Our current plastic consumption and pollution rates predict that by the year 2050, there will be more plastic in our major oceans and lakes than fish. This is now at a scale we simply cannot ignore, and changes need to be made.

There are many things that we can do on a personal scale to reduce our consumption of plastic and in turn help stop microplastic pollution. Some of these things include but are not limited to: using reusable grocery bags, buying less fast fashion clothing (yes that means less online shopping), buying reusable water bottles, etc. Every little thing we do counts. Personally, when I first heard about this ongoing problem, I started to make small changes in my life. I’ve bought stainless steel straws, have stopped buying plastic water bottles and even convinced my parents to start bringing their own reusable shopping bags!

Some good news surrounding this topic is that multiple large companies such as Adidas, Nestle, HP, etc. have started working towards making their products and packaging more environmentally sustainable. Additionally, many entrepreneurs and scientists are currently working on finding ways to prevent plastic from becoming waste and are looking for ways to tackle microplastic pollution.

Plastic rarely degrades and sometimes it really is the small things that cause the largest impact; in this case, those small plastics that you don’t particularity see are going to cause irreversible damage to our world. Just food for thought! Let me know what you think of this and if you’ve heard about it before, I’m very curious.

Here is a link with additional information on this topic if you’re interested! This link also provides more tips on how to reduce microplastics in your daily lifestyles. (LINK: https://tappwater.co/us/what-are-microplastics-and-5-tips-to-reduce-them/)

Reference:

US Department of Commerce, N. (2016, April 13). What are microplastics? Retrieved October 01, 2020, from https://oceanservice.noaa.gov/facts/microplastics.html

Not only are major species being effected by microplastics, but they can affect the smallest invertebrates. Waterways close to downtown Edmonton, Alberta have been affected. During a study 35 sites were tested around Edmonton and microplastics were found in everyone. It was said that we could stop the production of plastics, but the problem would persist.

 "So anytime you see a water bottle on the side of the road or a plastic bag blowing in the wind, that is a future pile of microplastic. Plastic doesn't degrade back to its original components. It breaks down into smaller and smaller pieces and those pieces have to end up somewhere” – David Locky (Professor at MacEwan University)

This research will hopefully provide a better idea on how microplastics affect the environment. With invertebrates being at the bottom of the food chain, we can trace the plastics amongst larger animals and the effects it has. What we do in a landlocked location can have detrimental effects on our oceans, as we can already start to see.

"There is nowhere on earth that we are immune from the effects of this” – David Locky (Professor at MacEwan University)

 Young, L., 2019. Microplastics Are In Our Drinking Water, But Are Of ‘Low Concern’ For Human Health: WHO Report. [online] Global News. Available at: <https://globalnews.ca/news/5795769/microplastics-drinking-water-health-who/> [Accessed 5 October 2020].

CBC. 2019. 

'Shocking' Results Prompt More Research On Microplastics In Edmonton-Area Water Bodies | CBC News

When considering the role privilege plays in nature interpretation, there are many different avenues this post could explore. Privilege is a factor interwoven into every aspect of society. My working definition of privilege would be a benefit or exclusion from added hardships only afforded to a particular group of people and created by social constructs and human history.

To unpack this further, a very prominent example of privilege for a specific group of people, created by humans and social constructs, is the privilege exclusively afforded to white people. Additionally, this privilege is not afforded to BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, People of Colour), who, throughout history and still today, experience prejudice and discrimination that white people do not.

When thinking about white privilege and nature, something stands out to me in relation to climate action. In the day’s climate action movements and media coverage, those with white privilege are often afforded the centre stage of media coverage to speak on their concerns about climate change and share their interpretations of the impacts it has on nature.

One stark example of this was when Ugandan youth climate activist, Vanessa Nakate, was cropped out of a photo by a news outlet that originally pictured her and several white peers, including Greta Thunberg. In response to what happened, Vanessa Nakate called out the racist photo editing and very powerfully said, “we don’t deserve this. Africa is the least emitter of carbons, but we are the most affected by the climate crisis…You erasing our voices won’t change anything. You erasing our stories won’t change anything” (BBC News, 2020).

Instances such as this point out that the opportunity to speak about what threatens our relationships with the environment is impacted by privilege and racism. The media chooses which activists to cover, who gets the opportunity to share their interpretation of nature and climate, and who many of us listen to. This limits our knowledge of the full impact of climate change and restricts the narratives many of us hear to only those coming from white activists. So, it is up to us to educate ourselves and listen to those the media is neglecting to cover.

Instances like this occur in Canada as well. Media attention is rarely focused on the impacts of climate change on Inuit communities, despite the severity of its impacts on Inuit culture, traditions, knowledge, and life. Instead, the narrative the media shows largely comes from young white activists and their interpretation of nature, climate, and how and why we should take action. The media, therefore, ignores a plethora of other dialogues and meaningful interpretations of nature.

I’d like to end this post by recommending a few sources to check out if you’d like to learn more about different perspectives and relationships with the environment as well as climate activism.

Check out: Indigenous Climate Action https://www.indigenousclimateaction.com/

This David Suzuki article: “Tackling climate change means purging privilege from politics” https://davidsuzuki.org/story/tackling-climate-change-means-purging-privilege-from-politics/

If you want a good book to read: “The Right to be Cold: One Women’s Story of Protecting Her Culture, the Arctic and the Whole Planet” by Sheila Watt-Cloutier

References:

DRAKU, F. and MUGANGA, E., 2019. West Nile Cut Off As River Nile Floods - Uganda. [online] ReliefWeb. Available at: <https://reliefweb.int/report/uganda/west-nile-cut-river-nile-floods> [Accessed 4 October 2020].